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River garlanding project to be revived: Minister

LAYING THE FOUNDATION: District in-charge Minister B. Nagaraj Shetty inaugurating the work on the new road between Ranipura and Someshwara Uliyal, in Mangalore on Monday.

Special Correspondent

It will solve the drinking water problem of the districts It will solve the drinking water problem of the districts

The chairman of the task force on river interlinking project to be consulted

MCC to deposit a sum of Rs. 10 crore with the Government for the second vented dam project

MANGALORE: The Government has decided to revive the river garlanding project that will connect all west flowing rivers in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts, district in-charge Minister B. Nagaraj Shetty, has said.

Speaking to presspersons after laying a foundation stone for the Ranipura - Someshwara Uliyal road here today, Mr. Shetty said that the Government has already discussed this issue in detail.

Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and the Water Resources Minister Eshwarappa evinced keen interest in the project as it had the potential of irrigation as well as solving the drinking water problem of the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

Mr. Shetty said though there was no time-bound programme or estimation of the cost as yet, there would soon be a meeting to discuss the matter.

Mr. Shetty said the river garlanding project had already been planned, but had not been executed. He said former Union Minister for power Suresh Prabhu, who was also the chairman of the task force on river interlinking project, would be consulted. The meeting in Mangalore would be held on August 23, 2006, he added.

When asked if the second vented dam was going to be a reality, Mr. Shetty said he had already instructed the Mangalore City Corporation to deposit a Rs. 10 crore with the Government as part of its commitment towards the project. The Government would then release Rs. 30 crore and also meet the cost escalation if any in the future. Mr. Shetty said the quarterly Karnataka Development Programme meeting held in Mangalore had also discussed the second vented dam issue and the Commissioner of the Corporation had agreed to deposit Rs. 5 crore in a week or two.